Santa Cruz police prepare for memorial at HP Pavilion

Santa Cruz Police Chief Kevin Vogel and other officials went to the HP Pavilion in San Jose on Monday to plan a memorial service for two officers killed in the line of duty, Det. Butch Baker and Det. Elizabeth Butler.

Butler and Baker

Santa Cruz Police Det. Elizabeth Butler and Det. Butch Baker were killed in the line of duty.

Mourners who want to attend a memorial event in Santa Cruz can go to Kaiser Permanente Arena, where the San Jose memorial ceremony will be video streamed live.

Baker and Butler were slain by a man who moved to Santa Cruz just months ago while attempting to "start over" with his life, family members said. He had a long criminal record of sex crimes and violence.

On Feb. 26, the detectives were talking to Jeremy Goulet through a closed door at his Branciforte apartment when he backed away from the door and slipped farther inside. The detectives were trying to get Goulet's side of the story after one of his co-workers at The Kind Grind coffee shop filed a police report about a sexual assault.

Goulet ambushed the detectives and opened fire with a handgun, Sheriff Phil Wowak said.

"We now know the detectives had absolutely no chance to protect themselves or return fire," Wowak said. "They barely had time to turn and run."

Butler and Baker were in plain clothes and were not wearing body armor. Wowak held back tears when he told reporters that even body armor would not have helped save them.

The former solider stole the officers' guns, jumped in Baker's car, and put on the detectives' body armor that was stored in the car. He was killed in a hail of bullets minutes later.

On Thursday an unknown soldier left a Purple Heart medal pinned to a teddy bear surrounded by purple orchid flower petals at a memorial outside the police station.

An anonymous message found along with the Purple Heart read:

"The teddy bear reflects the love of our community for the police and all the work they endure during their shifts, the red ribbon reflects the precious blood shed in the line of duty, the Purple Heart is for the sacrifice above and beyond the call of duty, when one loses their life for the protection of others and the greater good. I know you will understand."

There has been an outpouring of support from community members for the families of the two fallen Santa Cruz police officers.

The families of Baker and Butler requested that donations be made directly to the accounts set up on their behalf at Bay Federal Credit Union. Those wanting to contribute to the funds should send checks issued to Santa Cruz Police Officers Association to: Bay Federal Credit Union, 3333 Clares Street, Capitola, CA 95010. No account number is needed.

Santa Cruz heroes: Butch Baker and Elizabeth Butler

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SCPD

Sgt. Butch Baker and Det. Elizabeth Butler were the first Santa Cruz Police Department officers to be killed in the line of duty.